Gaby and PJ were married in the bride’s parent’s backyard in Sacramento, Calif. on July 5. “We wanted a small wedding with a lot of character,” Gaby said. “The backyard was surrounded by a rustic wood fence with ivy growing up, covered in beautiful trees to shade us from the hot, hot sun, and had a built-in-bar and dance floor, and even a trampoline for the kiddos!” The bride wore a scalloped lace trumpet wedding gown, accessorized with her hair down in loose curls, while the groom wore a white button-up shirt, denim vest, and khaki pants, accessorized with a tie. Bridesmaids wore mix ‘n’ matched short orange dresses in various necklines and carried bouquets of roses, peonies, dahlias, and greenery. “I LOVED all of my do-it-yourself projects, but my favorite was my backdrop,” she said. “We knew we wanted to do something with my grandparent’s swing set, but it was over 9-feet tall and 12-feet wide. Our florist happened to be an old friend from high school, and she did a walking tour with me through the backyard and gave me the idea to cover it completely in fabric. I spent a very long time looking for and cutting up table cloths and old bed sheets from thrift stores. My mother-in-law sewed a very big plain white background, which we hung first (so you couldn’t see through when the wind blew), and the day before the wedding, my bridesmaids and I sat out in the 110 degree weather, got out our ladder, and started tying all of the individual pieces together. I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that I was really nervous about this . . . but when it was complete . . . I couldn’t have been happier!” Fun fact: The ceremony also included the couple’s five-year-old son. “This was not only our special day, but his too,” Gaby said. Guests found their seats via a chalkboard window panel. Tables were decorated with vintage vase and vessel centerpieces, glasses, which served double-duty as favors, and mason jar candles. “In the middle of all the fun, everyone had gotten out on the dance floor and really started to let loose,” she said. “We went off to the back to just have a moment alone and look out at our family and friends, who had taken this journey with us. We watched them all laugh and just have fun, and then we danced too . . . very slowly and awkwardly to a rowdy song.”

Cindy and Ian were married at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. on March 10. The bride wore a v-neck lace fit ‘n’ flare wedding gown, accessorized with pearl earrings, necklace, and bracelet, while the groom wore a gray suit, accessorized with a white tie and black Converse tennis shoes. The bouquet and boutonniere were handmade fabric flowers shaped ranunculuses and dahlias. As the sun set, the ceremony took place overlooking an immaculate water fountain, but following, the reception took place inside the courtyard decorated with gray table linens, tall centerpieces with mini chalkboard table numbers, and votive candles. How cool is their ombre cake? Guests enjoyed drinking and dancing underneath the cafe lights and sent the newlyweds off with bubbles as the night came to an end!